The IsDBI’s agenda focused on advancing partnerships, capacity development, and knowledge-driven solutions in Islamic finance
JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, June 2, 2025/APO Group/ --
The Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI) (https://IsDBInstitute.org/) has reinforced its leadership in Islamic finance by engaging with key stakeholders in a series of high-level bilateral meetings during the 2025 IsDB Group Annual Meetings in Algiers, Algeria. These strategic engagements underscore IsDBI’s commitment to fostering collaboration, innovation, and sustainable development across its Member Countries.
Led by Dr. Sami Al-Suwailem, Acting Director General, the IsDBI team included Mr. Mohammad Khalid Jawahir, Senior Islamic Finance Specialist; Dr. Hylmun Izhar, Senior Research Economist; and Dr. Wejdan Kenali, Senior Editor. The IsDBI’s agenda focused on advancing partnerships, capacity development, and knowledge-driven solutions in Islamic finance.
Strengthening Global Partnerships
Key engagements included a meeting with the Securities Commission Malaysia, represented by Mrs. Sharifatul Hanizah, Executive Director, Islamic Capital Market and Mr. Hamzil Mohamadan, Head ICM Strategic Affairs, to explore collaboration in Sukuk, Awqaf, and sustainability initiatives.
Discussions with Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB) officials, Dr. Ghiath Shabsigh, Secretary General and Dr. Abdullah Haron, Deputy Secretary General, centered on Islamic finance laws and regulations and leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance financial infrastructure.
The IsDBI team also met with Atlantic Group, a leading pan-African conglomerate, led by Mr. Léon Konan Koffi, Chairman of the Board, focusing on the development of internal Shariah-compliant financial capabilities to support the Group’s expansion.
A session with the Eurasian Development Bank, represented by Mr. Ruslan Dalenov, Deputy Chairman of the Management Board, addressed the introduction of Shariah-compliant financial instruments in Central Asia, promoting financial inclusion and economic diversification.
Advancing Social Finance and Capacity Building
The IsDBI also met with IFAAS CEO and founder, Mr. Farrukh Raza where discussions centered on capacity building programs and the applications of Islamic finance principles.
A meeting with Mr. Zeinoul Abedien Cajee, Deputy Secretary General of the World Zakat and Waqf Forum, and CEO of Awqaaf South Africa, stressed on the importance of Islamic social finance and innovative technologies, such as blockchain, to enhance waqf management.
Engagement with Mr. Abdou Karim Diaw, National Coordinator of Senegal’s PROMISE program, focused on capacity-building initiatives in Islamic microfinance to drive financial inclusion in underserved communities.
Promoting Innovation and Knowledge Sharing
The delegation from Bank Negara Malaysia, led by Ms. Nurul Izza Idris, Director of the Islamic Finance Department, exchanged insights on capacity building, digital payment innovation, and enhanced cooperation with Central Asian Member Countries.
A meeting with the Participation Banks Association of Türkiye (TKBB), represented by Ms. Fatma Çınar, Deputy Secretary General of TKBB and Mr. Ömer Karakuş from the Katılım Finans Kefalet (Islamic Credit Guarantee Fund), included discussions on Türkiye’s experiences in credit guarantees, digital transformation, and sustainability reporting, with an emphasis on knowledge sharing.
Supporting Regulatory Development and Strategic Planning
Engagements with H.E. Sheku A. Fantamadi Bangura, Minister of Finance and IsDB Governor for Sierra Leone, and H.E. Hassan Miras, Deputy Minister of Finance and Acting IsDB Governor for the Republic of Maldives, focused on developing national Islamic finance strategies, regulatory frameworks, and capacity-building programs.
Meetings with Dr. Mohamed Abouzain, General Manager of Algeria’s National Office of Awqaf and Zakat, and Dr. Ahmed Lamine Athié, Director General of Senegal’s Haute Autorité du Waqf (HAW), addressed long-term strategic planning and public awareness for waqf management.
Fostering Innovation for Economic Growth
A session with Mr. Adam Roble, Managing Director of the Somali Development and Reconstruction Bank, explored innovative Islamic finance instruments to support agriculture and SMEs, including risk-sharing solutions and e-commerce integration.
“These strategic meetings reflect IsDBI’s unwavering commitment to knowledge-based development, financial inclusion, and the use of Islamic finance as a driver of sustainable economic progress across the Member Countries and Muslim communities worldwide,” said Dr. Sami Al-Suwailem, Acting Director General of IsDBI.
The IsDB Institute remains dedicated to building robust partnerships and advancing the Islamic finance ecosystem for the benefit of all its Member Countries.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI).
The western World is widely known for spreading misinformation, propaganda as a means of Islam-phobia.
They have attacked our religion time and again under the umbrella of "Free Speech" to influence others. It is not the first time or will be the last time that westerns drag our religion … through the mud. We, on the other hand, consider all religions sacred and respect them regardless.
We will not stoop to their level to insult a religion. We consider Essa, Musa, and Mohammed all Prophets. They have a problem, we don't.
Thank you Dalmar, for being a defender of our Faith. Good job, brother.
I understand what your saying but compared to some things that I have read this article is not that offensive. Granted it is not 100% accurate in its depiction of Islam but its general massage and point it wishes to bring accross is not one of which I would describe as Islam-phobia.
I see it a a man with limited knoweldge of Islam writting a simple comparison of the worlds two major regions, and trying the understand the success of Islam
This is a hard one I'm not sure what were his intentions maybe it was a deliberate mistake, nevertheless what the author (Irish) needs to understand is that the so called "honour killing" is not Islam culture its tribal culture practiced by some Arabs and gradually adopted by few others in places such as Turkey, Iran, etc.
Please learn the difference between Arab culture and Islam, a lot of this cultures existed before Islam and it was when Islam was introduced they got rid off a lot of inhuman practices while some kept their cultures. Islam does not call for the change of cultures and this is the reason it's been successful, Somalis continue to practice their nomadic values just as other Muslims have kept their cultures.
I am Irish, and I suspect I know the unnamed author of this article in the Irish Independent – his work frequently tends to be conservative, Christian and somewhat controversial. Needless to say, not all of us Irish believe that what an individual Muslim does is necessarily a product of Islam!
I don't think his intention is to slander Islam, but rather to try to galvanise the Christian faith and cultural values that he believes are necessary to maintain 'our' way of life. It is a typical conservative opinion, don't you think? A plea for defence against difference that may alter 'the way things are'. I for one want all peoples to confront their prejudices and find a way to co-exist in peace, even if it changes the way we do things quite drastically!
waa ku salaamay
lijoioihioi u09 099iuhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Why do they lie about the Deen of Islam and the Prophet of Allah, Muhammad (SAWS)? Honor killing has nothing to do with Islam and even if people who call themselves “muslims” do it does not make it Islamic. Does murdering of millions of people around the world in the name of christ make it the way of so called Jesus (PBUH)? See how the tricks of the wicked never make sense!! Do fall into the trap.